Passing a struct item as the parameter

Question

I understand it is possible to pass a struct as an argument etc.

But is it possible to have the parameter preset so only a specific struct item can be passed such:

struct inventory* searchForItem(struct stockItem.componentType code){

I'm getting : error: expected ';' , ', ' before token

EDIT:

typedef struct stockItem {
    char *componentType;
    char *stockCode;
    int numOfItems;
    int price;
} stockItem;

Answer 1

The type of that component is char * , so just make that the type of the parameter.

struct inventory* searchForItem(char *code){

If you want to make the type more strict, make a typedef for the field in question:

typedef char * stockItem_componentType;

typedef struct stockItem {
    stockItem_componentType componentType;
    char *stockCode;
    int numOfItems;
    int price;
} stockItem;

struct inventory* searchForItem(stockItem_componentType code){

Note that this hides a pointer behind a typedef which is not recommended. Then people reading your code (including yourself) won't know just by looking at it that it's a pointer, which can lead to confusion.

Answer 2

(Since the comments on the other answer are too constrained)

First you define a new type for componentType , like this:

typedef char *stockItem_componentType; // Naming subject to conventions

Now in your structure, you use this type instead of simple char* . This is optional, but very much recommended. Like this:

typedef struct stockItem {
    stockItem_componentType componentType;
    char *stockCode;
    int numOfItems;
    int price;
} stockItem;

And finally, your function prototype is:

struct inventory* searchForItem(stockItem_componentType code);